CHARLOTTE, NC - Fantasia Barrino - who faces the loss of her $1.3 million home here in a debtor's auction set for noon Monday - is apparently ignoring the looming legal threat, officials told The Post yesterday.

The inspirational "American Idol" winner owes a Florida credit company $65,000 - money she borrowed in 2006 to pay back taxes she owed the IRS.

The singer made a $10,000 payment in August 2007. But she never paid the rest, so the company won the right in court last month to auction off her house for the balance.

Mecklenburg County sheriff's deputies, who are responsible for enforcing civil court orders, have tried at least a dozen times to reach Barrino at the home and by phone, said Sgt. J.W. England, a supervisor of civil judgments.

A deputy spoke a couple of times to Barrino's mother, but never reached the star, who appears to be ignoring attempts to save her house, officials said.

"We try very hard and give the defendant every opportunity to pay," England said yesterday.

Over the course of about a year, Barrino has never responded to court documents, and no lawyer ever appeared in court to represent her, said Larry Goldman, a Charlotte attorney representing the credit company, Broward Energy Management.

"I certainly don't want anyone to lose their house," Goldman said. "But as far as I'm concerned, we have a judgment."

Barrino, 24, has made no payments and filed no documents since The Post reported a court-ordered lien on the property in Charlotte's upscale Piper Glen neighborhood last month.

Goldman said he never heard from Barrino's representatives until after the judge's order. He said he has since spoken twice with reps who haven't offered to resolve the debt but said they'd get back in touch before next Monday.

"My client has continuously asked me why they won't just pay it," Goldman said. "I just don't have an answer."

Barrino's attorney, Gary Greenberg declined to comment yesterday.

"It's my practice not to talk about client matters," he said.

Barrino's agent, Erin Culley, referred questions to the singer's publicist but was unable to provide contact information for that person.

Lady Gaga kept her momentum going last night by stopping by The Tonight Show With Jay Leno to perform her #1 single 'Just Dance' She continues to be a trendsetter with her fashion and her style of performing. She will also be shooting her second video today here in L.A. Shout out to my brother Asiel!!!!!!! I see you!!

The renowned bad girl is going good for one night. That's right, pop star Rihanna will tone down her image and don appropriate attire for her upcoming concert in Malaysia. The Muslim-majority country's concert organizers told the Associated Press this week that they asked the sexy singer, known for her provocative stage outfits, to clean it up for the February 13 stop there on her "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour. Under government guidelines, a female performer must be covered from the top of her chest, including her shoulders, to her knees.

Although her style helped land her at the top of many best dressed lists in 2008 in America, in Malaysia they don't play that. In the past other singers dealt with protests by conservative Muslim Malaysians due to their strict dress codes for performers, including Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls and Avril Lavigne. Stefani made what she called "a major sacrifice" by showing less skin and organizers of a Pussycat Dolls concert were fined nearly $3,000 for indecency in 2006. To add insult to injury, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party said they felt Rihanna was "sexier and more dangerous" than Lavigne, hence the request. If you're wondering why she's causing quite a stir, take a look at some of her recent show pics.




Rihanna's style has become quite risqué since she burst on the scene 4 years ago. In 2008 she constantly surprised, switching from pretty and sweet in pastels on the red carpet to dominatrix-leaning wear on stage at the BET, MTV and American Music Awards shows.

Do you think Rihanna should tone down her look for another country or follow in Madonna's footsteps and take the risk and be herself ?

According to our friends over at AllHipHop.com, Jermaine Dupri has been laid off from his position as Head of Urban over at Island Def Jam:

AllHipHop.com has received an exclusive report that Atlanta-based producer Jermaine Dupri’s tenure as President of Island Records Urban Music has come to an end. A formal announcement of his departure from the position, which he has held for nearly two years, may come as early as this week. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to the situation confirmed to AllHipHop.com that Dupri has in fact been terminated effective immediately.

R. Kelly and his wife Andrea's divorce was finalized Thursday after 11 years of marriage, lawyers for the former couple confirm to Usmagazine.com.

"The parties have reached an amicable resolution concerning all issues related to their marriage, and will share joint custody of their three children," their Chicago-based lawyers said in a joint statement. "The details of this agreement will remain confidential and the family requests that their privacy be respected during this time."

The couple separated in the fall of 2005, and Andrea went to court for an emergency restraining order, claiming that he had physically abused, harassed and stalked her, according to MTV News.

(Kelly had faced mounting legal troubles -- the year before, charges were dropped against him in Florida for having sex with an underaged girl. In June 2008, the R&B singer was acquitted from child pornography charges after allegedly appearing in a raunchy video with another underage girl.)

Andrea told Essence magazine in 2007 that she and Kelly "have a bond that we will have for the rest of our lives because we have children...That we filed for divorce is not that important."

They have two daughters and a son together.

Diva Mariah Carey rang in 2009 by being paid a staggering $1 Million for performing at a New Years party held by Colonel Gaddafi's son in St. Barts:

Mariah Carey was paid $1 million to sing just four songs at a New Year's Eve party.

The 38-year-old singer reportedly received the staggering sum from Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif son after agreeing to perform at the Nikki Beach Club on the Caribbean island of St Barts.

Mariah, who was at the event with husband of eight months Nick Cannon, shattered all pregnancy rumours as she enjoyed champagne and oysters during the party.

Other performers included hip-hop stars Jay-Z and Timbaland, who performed together on stage, before Jay-Z saw in 2009 together with his wife Beyonce Knowles.

Here is Teyana Taylor's rendition of Bee's "Single Ladies" OMG can you count how many times the boy holding the camera "I Looooove Teyana" He's a ke ke!!!!

Word has it former Danity Kane vixen Aubrey O'Day has agreed to pose for Playboy magazine for half a million dollars:

Musician Aubrey O'Day has allegedly agreed to pose naked for Playboy magazine.

O'Day, who was in the group Danity Kane, will earn £344,000 for appearing in the adult publication, according to the New York Daily News.

"Aubrey's making about $500,000 to drop trou," said a source. "For that kind of money, she was like 'Why not?'"

The Making The Band star previously stripped off with her ex-bandmates for a PETA campaign in October 2008.

We've all heard about medical mistakes before but what happened to one mother in New Jersey is beyond comprehension. Kaylnn Moore told reporters in New York yesterday that when she went into labor a month early on December 21, doctors at Christ Hospital in Jersey decided to do a C-section.

But instead of getting her Christmas miracle, a healthy baby boy named Bashir, Moore's son was stillborn. Devastated, the young mother left her baby's remains in the care of the hospital and went home. When she came back to claim him, the hospital couldn't find his body. That's right, you heard me, the Christ Hospital claimed it couldn't find Bashir. ...
How does a hospital lose an infant's body?

If that wasn't bad enough, Moore says police told her that her son had accidentally been thrown in the trash; tossed away like garbage. How in the world could that happen? Surely, medical professionals can tell the difference between a little black boy and a pile of trash, right? Apparently, not because now officials are searching dumps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania looking for Bashir's remains.

It makes me wonder about the state of health care in this country. And, it should make you think the next time you check in the hospital.

Brandy recentley stopped by the Today Show to perform current single "Long Distance" She sounds amazing on this performance, very close o the actual CD. What are your thoughts?

It looks like Minnesota Timberwolves' guard Rashad McCants has been keeping up the Kardashians closer than most folks. It's no mystery those Kardashian women like themselves some athletes. Kardashian mom, Kris, married former Olympian Bruce Jenner and Kim is currently dating New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush. Now comes word that McCants and sister Khloe are an item.

"As I'm sure most of you have seen, it's being reported all over the place that I have a boyfriend," Khloe wrote on her blog. "Well I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you that it's true... I do "officially" have a boyfriend. His name is Rashad McCants and he plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves, hence my little FREEZING visit there with Malika a few weeks ago, not to mention my other random visits there! Rashad and I have been dating since July, but it only got serious within the past few months.

"I don't want you guys to think I was trying to hide this from you- it was all just so new and exciting and I wasn't sure where the relationship was going to go," she continued. "In the very beginning of it all, I felt it was the right thing to do to keep it to myself because I didn't want to force whatever this was, or make it into something bigger if it wasn't."

Who cares, right? Well, maybe the Minnesota Timberwolves do. McCants went to party with his girl in Vegas over New Years but came back riding the bench. Wolves coach Kevin McHale said that McCants hasn't been playing much because of a lack of effort (and distraction maybe?). McCants didn't play at all against the Bulls on Saturday and only saw six minutes of playing time against the Warriors on Friday. We'll see if McCants will see any substantial playing time this week.

An Oakland transit cop struggling to handcuff a 22-year-old man, stood up over the suspect and fired a single shot into his back while fellow officers watched.

That what's seen in a short video taken on New Year's by a train passenger who caught the arrest-turned-execution on film. Source

The shooting death of Oscar Grant did not have to happen. Even if the police were busting him for being involved in a fight on the train. Unarmed, he pleaded with cops not to harm him or not to taser him, according to a friend who witnessed the shooting. The officer shot anyway. He was a young father and husband.

The family of the victim (see second video below) is suing the transit police for $25 million. ...

Entertainment Weekly has release the first official stills of Denzel Washington's latest film, 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3', which is a remake of the 1974 classic.

Directed by Tony Scott, the film also stars John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli, and James Gandolfini.

In 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3', Denzel Washington stars as New York City subway dispatcher Walter Garber, whose ordinary day is thrown into chaos by an audacious crime: the hijacking of a subway train. John Travolta stars as Ryder, the criminal mastermind who, as leader of a highly-armed gang of four, threatens to execute the train's passengers unless a large ransom is paid within one hour.

As the tension mounts beneath his feet, Garber employs his vast knowledge of the subway system in a battle to outwit Ryder and save the hostages. But there's one riddle Garber can't solve: even if the thieves get the money, how can they possibly escape?



Columbia Pictures will release the film this summer on June 12.

A representative for Soulja Boy has confirmed reports the rapper was the victim of assault earlier this week. Unconfirmed reports that DeAndre Ramone Way and several of his friends were robbed at gunpoint after six men invaded his Georgia home on Tuesday-Dec. 30th.

Speculation heightened on Wednesday after two masked men posted a video, in which they took responsibility for the crime, online. They also boasted of stalking the star at a release party for his new album iSouljaBoyTellem before following him home. In the two-minute video, the duo blasted reports the hip-hop star was held-up by six attackers, armed with pistols and AK-47s, claiming they burgled the star with a single weapon between them.

A spokesperson for Soulja Boy has now confirmed that “a serious situation” did occur. The representative refused to provide further details.

According to National Enquirer Knowles appeared to put down the Jackson family in a recent interview with Elle magazine by stating,

“I grew up upper class. Private school. My dad had a Jaguar. We’re African-American and we work together as a family, so people assume we’re like The Jackson’s. But I didn’t have parents using me to get out of a bad situation.”

After reading about her comments, Janet Jackson was livid. She took B’s comments as a direct jab at her humble beginnings in a small Indiana community. An “insider” told the National Enquirer about Janet’s fury over the comments.

“Yes, Janet and the Jackson family came from Gary, Indiana, and there was a time they barely squeaked by. But Janet has many loving memories and is incensed that Beyonce would make a crack like that. Janet wanted to know why Beyonce had to mention her family. They’re not friends and barely know each other. She feels Beyonce went out of her way to tell the world she’s from the upper class and the Jacksons were like a bunch of dirty gutter rats.




Janet is proud of her family and how they came from nothing and became superstars. Not only is Janet telling everyone who will listen that Beyonce has a lot of growing up to do and that she needs to stop trying to impress everyone, she’s planning to confront Beyonce herself and read her the riot act.”

Word is that Ms. Janet plans to confront Beyonce about her comments! Beyonce side of the story will probably go like this "I was misquoted and that’s not what I meant to say” What are your thoughts?

A man who initially told police gunmen kidnapped his 2 1/2-year-old son was arrested Saturday, accused of committing an “extremely hideous” murder because he was ordered to pay child support, Police Superintendent Warren Riley said.

Danny Platt confessed, told police where to find the child’s body and will be booked with first-degree murder of Ja’ Shawn Powell, Riley said at a news conference.

“He had said he would kill either his wife or his child before he paid child support,” which he recently had been ordered to do, Riley said.

Riley said he did not know the amount of child support and would not describe how the boy was killed, saying the coroner would do that after the autopsy was complete. The coroner’s spokesman did not immediately return a call.

“The mother is in a safe place,” Riley said.

Although he had visiting rights, Platt, 22, of New Orleans, had never visited the boy until he picked him up Friday, Riley said.

Police put out a notice Saturday asking people to look for the boy and saying his father had told them three men with dreadlocks and AK-47 rifles had piled out of an SUV and kidnapped Ja’ Shawn shortly before midnight Friday.

“His story never really added up,” Riley said. “He was a suspect from the very beginning.”

Riley said Platt eventually confessed and told officers where to find the body.

Platt had only a couple of “very minor” previous arrests, he said.

Wow, the video for T-Pain's third single, "Freeze," has finally premiered. I definitely loved the track from the time it leaked and still do. It hasn't really caught on with radio though and T-Pain seems to have a good couple singles out right now in "Chopped & Screwed" and "One More Drink" featuring Ludacris. The concept of the video isn't anything completely new/fresh but it'll do. Check it out. "Thr33 Ringz" in stores now.

Coming out this February is 'Push', a sci-fi thriller that takes us into the secret world of psychic espionage. Our hero is Nick Gant (Chris Evans), a young man whose father was genetically altered to be the perfect government assassin. After the brutal murder of his father, Nick swears revenge on the agency that created him.

Directed by Paul McGuigan, the film stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Maggie Siff, and Scott Michael Campbell.

Hidden in the underworld of Hong Kong, Nick assembles a group of rogue psychics to defeat Division, the covert agency responsible for creating and experimenting with psychic drugs for decades.

Nick teams up with Cassie Holmes, a thirteen-year-old girl who can see the future, to track down a missing girl and a stolen suitcase that could potentionally bring the downfall of Division - the key to their mutual revenge. Combining their skills, they outwit assassins and learn about Division's latest secret weapon - a powerful and new experimental drug called R16, which could shift the tides of psychic warfare.

Beyoncé performs her cover of "The Way We Were" in honor of Barbra Streisand at the Kennedy Center Honors reordered December 7, 2008 Below is Barbra's version from 1978. Check it out:

Here is a behind the scenes look at Teairra Marie on the set of her new soon to be video "Hunt For You"

Power couples Beyoncé and Jay-Z and Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated New Year's Eve together at Nikki Beach club in St. Barts. L.A. Reid and his wife Erica also joined the festivities at the Caribbean destination.
Mariah can be seen sitting on Nick's lap at one point, while B takes pictures of her friends. The couples look like they had a lot of fun - laughing, dancing, and sipping drinks throughout the evening.







Recording artist Lady Gaga the 2009 New Years Eve Ball at Webster Hall on December 31, 2008 in New York City


New York Giants running back Derrick Ward celebrates New Year's Eve 2009 at Nikki Midtown on December 31, 2008 in New York City.


Television personalities Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt kiss at midnight as they host a New Year's Eve party at Christian Audigier The Nightclub at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino December 31, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Recording artist Mario (L) and actress Emmanuelle Chriqui attend the New Year's Eve party sponsored by Inocente Tequila and hosted by Emmanuelle Chriqui and Perez Hilton at Hotel Gansevoort NYC on December 31, 2008 in New York City.


Miley Cyrus (right) surprises Alison Kaprielian with a concert at A Miley-Sized Surprise New Year's Eve 2009 presented by FNMTV at Arnold O'Beckman High School on December 31, 2008 in Irvine, California.


Mario Winans attends the Maxim Sirius' Covino N Rich Show New Years Eve 2009 event at POP Lounge on December 31, 2008 in New York City.



Usher and Tameka welcomed in the New Year at Sin City’s most exclusive New Year’s Eve celebration at The Bank Nightclub at Bellagio. Usher and entourage kicked it at their VIP tables and apparently had to have security keep the hourdes of screeching female fans at bay. This was one of their first night out together since the birth of their second child only three short weeks ago.


Fergie performs at The Palazzo and The Venetian Hotel and Casino on December 31, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.



The Kardashian Sisters and Reggie Bush rang in the New Year at LAX in Vegas


Tyrese attends New Years Eve 2009 at LIV Nightclub in the Fontainebleau Hotel presented by Ciroc Vodka on December 31, 2008 in Miami.


Molly Sims attends New Years Eve 2009 at Blade Nightclub in the Fontainebleau Hotel presented by Ciroc Vodka on December 31, 2008 in Miami.


Dame Dash and his son Boogie Dash DJ’d in the new year at Club Plumm in NY


Ludacris performed in Times Square for the Ball Drop festivites


Terry Crews and his wife partied in NY


John Legend shares a New Years Kiss with his Lady Friend Christine at a Prive nightclub in Vegas...


Paris Hilton sparkles alongside sister Nicky – and a hulking new pal! – on Wednesday, as the celebrity siblings prepare to ring in the New Year in Sydney, Australia. The sisters were hosting "The Bongo Virus" bash, an online-only New Year's Eve celebration. (The monkey's the event mascot.)

Singers Katy Perry and Travis McCoy have ended their relationship, a source tells us.

The "I Kissed a Girl" singer, 24, and the Gym Class Heroes frontman, 27, vacationed together in Mexico over the holidays, but they split shortly before the New Year, says a source.

"It's a hardship, but she's regrouping," a source told Celebuzz, which first reported the split.

McCoy took to his FriendsOrEnemies.com blog on Dec. 31, where he posted lyrics to hip-hop group Main Source's breakup song "Looking at the Front Door."

The song includes the lines: "We fight every night, now that's not kosher/I reminisce with bliss of when we was closer/And wake up to be greeted by an argument again/You act like you're ten."

He followed the lyrical post with another loaded message, declaring his devotion to his laptop: "My Laptop is my new b–. LOYAL. LISTENS. and NEVER LET'S ME DOWN."

The same day, Perry performed at the Gridlock New Year's Eve party on the Paramount lot. "She hung out with her friends all night. She was in a great mood," says a partygoer. "Nothing seemed out of the ordinary."

After more than a year of friendship and casual dating, the musicians got serious right before both hit the road for last summer's Vans Warped tour. McCoy bought Perry a "promise ring," he told PEOPLE in June, while he wore a silver band with the word "Katy" on it.

A rep for Perry, a Grammy nominee who kicks off a tour Jan. 23 in Seattle, had no comment on the singer's personal life. McCoy's rep could not be reached for comment.

Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of actor John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston, died Friday while on vacation with his family in the Bahamas.

Jett had suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island, said Michael Ossi, a lawyer for the family, in a statement through Travolta's rep.

The teen hit his head in a bathtub Friday morning and was declared dead at Rand Memorial Hospital, police spokeswoman Loretta Mackey told the Associated Press.

According to police, a caretaker had found Jett unconscious in the bathroom around 10 a.m. An autopsy is being pursued to determine the exact cause of death.

Jett, who is the only son of Travolta, 54, and Preston, 46, had a history of seizures, according to Ossi. The couple also have a daughter, Ella Bleu, 8.

The death was first reported by TMZ.

In 2003 Preston told Montel Williams that when Jett was 2 he became "very, very ill, but it seemed like flu symptoms" before being diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. The condition, which usually affects children from ages 2 to 5, can cause inflammation of the arteries. Usually treatable, it can lead to lasting heart damage in rare cases.

Preston, who also said Jett suffered from asthma, blamed household cleaners, fertilizers and pesticides for sparking the condition and lobbied for more detailed labeling on chemical products. She credited a detoxification program based on the writings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard with helping to improve Jett's health.



Dr. Dre's Son Died From Overdose of Heroin and Morphine

Dr. Dre's son, Andre Young Jr., died from an overdose of heroin and morphine, the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner confirmed on Friday.

"This case has been closed, it's been ruled an accident due to morphine and heroin intoxication," coroner spokesman Larry Dietz told PEOPLE. The drug test results had been pending for four months.

Young, 20, was found unresponsive by his mother, Jenita Porter, 40, in their Woodland Hills, Calif., home on the morning of Aug. 23.

Paramedics pronounced Young – who was remembered by friends as an optimistic young man – dead at the scene.

Porter told investigators that her son had been out with friends that night, and she recalled hearing him snoring around 5:30 a.m.

"Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son," the rapper's publicist Lori Earl previously said in a statement. "Please respect his family's grief and privacy at this time."

Really? Soulja Boy, your gonna diss one of the most influential people in Hip-Hop? Maybe he's looking for attention to help promote his new album?

Although the release date has bounced back and forth throughout the year, the indie film that landed Mariah Carey a Golden Globe nomination for Best Song - 'Tennessee' will be released to select theaters in March, 2009.

The film had opened for a one-week qualifying engagement in Los Angeles for Academy consideration for Best Picture and Best Song ('Right To Dream') on December 5th.

Two brothers, Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and Ellis (Ethan Peck), embark on a journey from New Mexico to find their estranged father in the hopes of saving Ellis, who has been diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Along the way they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), an aspiring country singer, who becomes the brothers' guardian angel and joins them on their fateful road trip.